State Senator Christine Cohen (D-Guilford) today welcomed the receipt of $492.43 million in federal Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief funds for Connecticut, including $2.9 million in federal funding for schools in the 12th State Senate District that she represents.
The federal funds, which are part of the federal Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, must be used to reduce educational disparities that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local funding incudes:
“The impact of this global viral pandemic is deep and broad and seems never-ending. Fortunately, governments at the state and federal levels are stepping in with money that is absolutely essential to ensuring public health, economic vitality and continuity for our educators and young learners,” Sen. Cohen said. “As a former board of education member and the mother of three, I know how needed these school relief funds are, and I’m confident our local school systems will put this money to good use for both staff and students.”
Approved uses of the federal funds include coordinating improved COVID-19 response, prevention and preparation efforts; addressing learning loss among students, including groups seen to experience increased learning loss such as low-income students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness and children and youth in foster care; addressing individual schools’ needs; improving sanitation on school campuses; and improving indoor air quality in schools while reducing risk of environmental health hazards, among others.